Monday, November 14, 2011

B1G power rankings: Week 12

1. Wisconsin: I tried to tell people after Wisconsin lost for a second consecutive week on a hail Mary pass that they were the best team in the conference, and look now the Badgers control their own destiny to become B1G champs, which they will.  The fact that some people actually put Ohio State, Penn State, and Nebraska ahead of Wisconsin is offensive, and I'm a Gopher fan!!!

2. Michigan State: That was an impressive performance by the Spartans in Iowa City last weekend and I have to be honest that I didn't see that coming.  Sparty just needs to find a way to not get humiliated in their losses so people take them a little more seriously.  They got spanked by Nebraska and Notre Dame this year and by Alabama and Iowa the year prior. 

3. Nebraska: The Huskers played well enough offensively to fend off a late Penn State rally and win in not so Happy Valley.

4. Michigan: Don't look now but the Wolverines are 8-2 and have played better defense than any one in their wildest dreams ever imagined before the season began.  Hats off to defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and Head Coach Brady Hoke for instilling a toughness in their players.

5. Penn State: The Nitanny Lions played well in the 2nd half and their slow start wasn't unexpected all things considered.  I think they have a real shot to knock off the Buckeyes in Columbus next week.

6. Iowa: The Hawkeyes ran into an ornery Michigan State team last weekend that wasn't going to allow last year's lop sided loss repeat itself.  Look for the Hawkeyes to get knock off inconsistent Purdue next weekend in West Lafayette.

7.  Northwestern: Here come the Cats with their annual late season heroics.  That trend should continue this weekend against Minnesota at home.

8. Ohio State: That was a bad loss for the Fighting Fickel's.  They need a win desperately this weekend at home against a vulnerable Penn State team.  Can someone please tell me how on god's green earth the Buckeyes knocked off Wisconsin and lost to Purdue?

9. Purdue: That was a nice win for the Boilermakers and it may have saved Danny Hope's job.

10. Illinois: I tried to tell everyone that the Illini were overrated.  They will lose their 5th straight this weekend to Wisconsin and need to knock off Minnesota in Minneapolis to save Ron Zook's job.  Losing 6 games to close the season and topping it all off with a loss to Minny is grounds for dismissal.

11. Minnesota: The Gophers actually didn't play that bad against Wisconsin.  They just got beat by a vastly superior team.

12. Indiana: My guess is IU fans are counting the days before Gunner Kiel's arrival in Bloomington

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